²the Hawaiian office most commonly translated
as that of 'Prime minister' is Kuhina nui.
The office was created in 1819 upon the death of
Kamehameha I. Kamehameha's favorite wife, Ka‘ahumanu,
reported that it was the King's wish that she become in
effect the co-sovereign along with the King's young son.
In her position as Kuhina nui
she ruled the Kingdom until Kamehameha II came to
majority and then for the remainder of her life. The Kuhina
nui's power was greater than that of a
prime minister in the western sense. The Constitution of
20 Aug 1864 abolished the office of Kuhina
nui returning the power held by the Kuhina
nui back to the monarch.

³under the Constitutions of 1840 and
1852 the sovereign was titular head of the armed forces.
The 1894 Constitution of the republic named
the president as commander-in-chief of all
military forces.